Fake news

What do you think is the best way to combat fake, false news? How far will cognitive computing be able to suppress fake news from spreading? When the subjective factor can never be completely eliminated since the subject is integrated with the object, can a news item or reporting be really neutral?

Personally, the whole click through monetization process is the dope man. How many "reputable" and also less than reputable news organizations probably have 60% of their articles with something titled TRUMP in the article. Google and or something pays for the click through. It is only going to get worse unless humans are paid to screen and filter. Just my .02c.

I think the responsibility for combating fake news lies partly with individuals — we all need to learn to check facts before sharing something, no matter how much we agree with it — but it also lies partly with online services.

Many online services these days are designed around maximizing user engagement. They encourage users to share things, like things, and comment on things, because the more that happens, the better the engagement numbers look, and the better the company looks to investors.

But some of the most engaging content is content that makes people angry or indignant, since that makes them more likely to reply or share quickly without thinking. This ends up incentivizing the rapid spread of emotionally charged misinformation, and it de-incentivizes calm, thoughtful reflection. Some social networks thrive on this, because more eyeballs and more clicks means more ad dollars.

Online services need to shift their incentives toward rewarding thoughtful, beneficial content and away from emotionally driven, rage-fueled content or the fight against fake news will continue to be an uphill battle.

I was at a picnic last night and someone I admire was there who works at YouTube. He said they have had to face the fact that the world changed since YouTube was founded and not just because of the scale of YouTube. They now have to do things with editorial judgement they thought they would never do.

One of the most surprising things is how videos of conspiracy theories used to never get traction. They'd get voted down or ignored. But now for some reason they can get millions of views from fanatical followers.